ABC political thriller "Scandal" returns for its third season on Thursday, October 03, 2013. The new season of "Scandal" will also bring back "Friends" Phoebe in a recurring role.

Hollywood Reporter reports that Lisa Kudrow has bagged a recurring role on "Scandal," which is her biggest role after Phoebe in "Friends." However, her character sketch is still under wraps. We just know that she will be playing a high-profile politician. ABC has not revealed other details.

"Scandal," created by Shonda Rhimes, is about professional fixer Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington). She fixes problems of the politicians, before anyone comes to know about them. In the Season 2 finale, the media comes to know about her relationship with Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) and she is questioned whether she had an affair with the president.

The Hollywood Reporter had earlier reported that Scott Foley has been promoted to series regular. He plays the role of Jake Ballard. "I'm thrilled to join such a talented, enthusiastic and professional group of people," Foley said in a statement, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter. "Shonda and company have created a troupe of layered, complex characters, and to be able to be part of that is both exciting and humbling."

Goldwyn had said to HuffPost TV that in Season 3 of "Scandal", "all hell is breaking loose at the White House over [someone leaking the truth about Fitz and Olivia's affair], and Fitz is kind of trying to regain his center. I think he's kind of the calm in the storm, in a way. He's really determined to be a stabilizing force, if that's even possible, because everyone is running around like chickens with their heads cut off."

"And Fitz is not having that. We'll see him trying to think clear-headedly, even though that's extremely difficult because he gets kind of buffeted at every turn."

He also disclosed that his character's mysterous past relationship with Jake will also be revealed in the upcoming season of "Scandal." "There's a lot of dark tunnels we're gonna be going down, I suspect, that dig up more details about Fitz and Jake," he said.

ABC renewed the drama series for its third season in May, 2013. It has released a teaser for the season three premiere of "Scandal," which will air on October 3, 2013.

Scandal Season 3 Promo "Battle of Her Life" [Source: TelevisionPromosdb/Youtube.com)